SPLASHES.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20238, 23 February 1934, Page 11

SPLASHES.

Notes and Comments. (By “PIKE.") Swimming enthusiast? looked forward to seeing Noel ( rump, Auckland’s best, in action at the National Champion, ships: all saw him swim, win and lose, and Crump went down with flying colours. D. P. I.indsay. former Canterbury' champion, came out New Zealand champion for the year 1934, with three of the live titles to his credit. This meeting will, in all probability, mark the close of Lindsay’s career as a cornpetitiye swimmer. He was an Olympic representative in 1928, and has won South Canterbury, Canterbury and Dominion titles in

the intermediate and senior divisions. Lindsay caused a sensation at the 1927 national championship meeting in Auckland, when he won the 220vds. 440vds, SSOyds and mile events in 2min 31 4-ssec, 5m in 24 2-ssec (record), 11 min 25 3-ssec (rernrcl) and 23min 3G 4-sse.c -(record) respectively. The fol-

. . ... lowing season he retained all his titles at Dunedin and was sent to Amsterdam Olympiad, where he finished third in his heat of the 400 metres. On his return to New Zealand Lindsay suffered a loss of form, and lost his furlong and mile titles—the only ones he could defend—to A. T. F Stokes. He little racing during the 1929-30 season his only appearance being in u- Auckland championship, in which he was beaten bv G. Bridson At T' ma * u in . 1932 Lindsay won three of the five titles, and repeated the performance at Napier last vear. lie has by no means had his rtav vet but he evidently knows when he has had enough. His service to swimming will long be remembered, and it would he pleasing to sec him acting in an official capacity at Auckland next year. Empire Games. m«th. I £ P wJ« he ., srea J est surprise of the meeting was the win of \V. Whareaitu ',..n,Vu e . J ," oydK hack stroke. The -Maori |° *!' > .outclassed the opposition. If ne maintains ins present rate of imi the Kt V l)ire ‘ James should be within his reach. When Whareaitu came down from the north so early in the week before the championships clitics and enthusiasts suspected someMany thought that the Rotorua man was after the 100yds crown—and rightly so—hut few knew that he also had the backstroke title ’n view After Y h^ r ? ait . u s trainer stated that his man had broken the New Zealand backstroke record almost every time he entered the water duriner training . L- Smith also looks like being-' well m the running for the Empire flames team. At the breaststroke styde ot swimming he is in a class by himself, and the time lie registered while slowing up in the title race must be considered outstanding. With sufficient opposition Smith should put up great time. Eooal Championships. The men’s mile and the women’s 220yds provincial championships are to be decided at the Phillipstown Club carnival to-morrow. The mile should attract a fair field. E. M’Conville, R. M. Rattray and C. Cliff look 'lke fighting it out for first place, with M’Conville perhaps getting the better of things. Cliff should be bard to beat, but may only fill second position. Rattray should be third. T. Nowth may also compete. If L. Hill or I). H. Simes start they will put a different complexion on the result. The women’s 220yds should go to Mis B A. Morris. Miss J. Mosse will be hard to beat and should at least fill second place. Miss V. Berry apears to be next best choice. Out and About. Prior to the New Zealand championships a carnival was held in Auckland. The feature of the 66 2-3yds men’s handicap was the w'onderful sprinting of R. Frankliam. tlie ex-New Zealand 100yds champion. He was on scratch, conoed-

ing 3 sec to R. Thomas .arui N. Crump. Many enthusiasts. influenced by the brilliance of Crump’s previous form, gave Frankham little chance of overtaking h i m. But he succeeded. He skimmed through the water so fast that he dead-heated with Crump in 34 2-ssec. “ Unquestiona b 1 y.” said the ‘’Auckland Herald.” ” Frank-

ham is the only swimmer in New Zealand able to cover 66 2-3yds as smartly or faster.” It is just a matter of opinion whether or not W. J. Jarvis of Otago is capable of doing such time of better. In winning the Otago 100yds in 5 7 4-s&ec, lie covered 66 2-3yds in 35sec. Then in the invitation 50yds at the national meeting be returned 24 4-ssec, 3-osec outside the New Zealand record. “ Pike’s ” opinion is t hat in the fast. Auckland .water Jarvis could return as good as i4sec for 66 2-3 yds. Last Wednesday night marked the falling of the curtain on the competitive swimming for more than one person. Besides D. P. I.indsay, O. Berry, for years the leading light in the Fendalton Club, has also decided to withdraw. All who know Berry know what n fine sport he is—not particularly fast, hut always in the swim. He has been swimming since 1 922. His retirement is due I to his transfer to the North Island. Carnival Reminders. February 24—Phillipstown, at Phillips-| March 3—Beckenham, at Beckenham. March 10—Linwood. at Linwood